A MULTI-faith service in memory of the Accrington Pals brought together all denominations to pray for world peace.

And the vicar of St John's Church, Accrington, where the service was held, the Rev Ian Robertson, hailed it a huge success, saying: "This was the first but it certainly won't be the last."

He was delighted after around 700 people gathered on Sunday, adding: "It was wonderful to see so many people from all the different faiths under one roof. There were people from Muslim and Jewish communities who joined together with Christians for the service.

"We were praying for peace in the world and the service was a way of bringing the whole community together. We must get communities working together with people from other faiths and cultures in the town, especially at this present time with the situation with Iraq."

Led by the Archdeacon of Black-burn, the Venerable John Hawley, the first-of-a-kind service included pra-yers, hymns and the lighting of the Toc H lamp. Prayers were said in remembrance of the Accrington Pals, whose memory still lives on at the church as it is home to a special chapel, dedicated 12 years ago.

The service, which lasted over an hour, is held annually on the Sunday nearest the date in 1915 when the first recruits left the church for training before they fought, and suffered heavy loss of life, in the famous Battle of the Somme during the First World War.